For some reason that I'm not sure I know, I was reluctant to do the DIY aux input. And now that the official one is out, before I spend $40+ for basically a wire, I have two questions:
1) I've been told by my dealer that if I install it myself (seems stupid to pay to have them do it), it will void my warranty- ON THE WHOLE CAR. Ridiculous. I'd rather not spend $50 or whatever for them to do it, but if it's a matter of saving my warranty it's worth it. But that seems too crazy to be true- anyone know for sure?
2) I've also heard rumors that you can't charge your iPod from the lighter while it's playing through the aux cable. I can't imagine why not, but I am no electrician. Can anyone confirm this?

Sorry if this has been answered before... I'm new to this board, and I did a search and didn't find anything.

TIA!

 

Tell your dealer that you will take your servicing and recommendations ELSEWHERE. There is no way that you will void the warranty on the entire car if you simply make a modification to the RADIO, especially since you are using factory approved parts!

If you have an '03 model, and no NAV, then you are simply plugging a cable into the back of the radio and attaching the jack to the glovebox interior if you follow the MINI instructions to the letter. Let them tell YOU how doing this will void your warranty in it's entirety, and with a straight face.

There is a bit more to this kit than a simple wire. Hidden inside the overwrap is a small circuit responsible for the ground isolation. People who have made their own cables had dicovered that when an iPod or perhaps other players are connected AND the player was connected to the lighter plug for power, the Aux port would simply 'disappear'. This happens because of the way the radio connector uses the ground to 'see' if an aux port had been installed. By connecting the charger to the player AND the Aux port, a circuit was essentially grounded out or bypassed and this made the homemade Aux ports appear to eht stereo that they were no longer installed. The 'official' connector has supposedly corrected this problem.

I have not tried to power my player through the lighter to see if this is in fact true. I believe others found it to work fine.

 

where do you buy this cable ???
Thank´s
Chobe

 

I played my player last night through the aux port and it was plugged into the lighter, no problems. I do not have the NAV system and Great Bear is correct, it just plugs in so I also do not see how this would void the warranty. Also, with the dealer install they put in the glovebox, not a place that I wanted it.

Here is mine:



again.

 

Do you buy this cable at a BMW/Mini Dealer?

 

Got the cable from CLASSIC MINI a sponsor of this site. $36.00 including shipping.

 

Can I plug it in a 2003 MSC with no HK sistem.
One more thing do you have the web page for CLASSIC MINI
Thank you for all the trouble.
chobe

 

It states on the install all MINIs built after 09/02.

Check the Sponsor forum - they do not have a web site that I know of. You can call or email Brian.